Samsung develops thinner CRT

Samsung has developed a new cathode ray tube (CRT) that is only 35cm deep. This will allow the production of normal CRT TV's that are only 38cm deep.

The 32-inch CRT TVs available on the market today are normally 50 to 60cm deep. While this new CRT would still be significantly thicker than the 10cm or so of plasma display panel (PDP) and LCD TVs, it would be on a par with the 40cm depth of most rear-projection units using digital micromirror devices (DMD) or similar technologies.

Samsung SDI plans to begin small-scale manufacturing at the end of 2004, shifting to volume production the following year. The technology used in the 32-inch design will also be adopted in other CRT sizes, and the firm's entire CRT line-up is expected to be updated by 2006. "

The CRT market is still profitable Samsung says, especially for gamers and other consumers that need the vibrant color and response rate that only a CRT can deliver.

Samsung's goal is to make a CRT TV that can go head-to-head with LCD TVs in the global market. A source at the firm explained, "We developed this thin CRT with the objective of halting the erosion of the CRT TV market by LCD TVs."